While speculation continues regarding Robert Lewandowski‘s future with FC Barcelona amid growing interest from the Saudi Arabian league, the veteran striker has recently confirmed a startling account from his first season with the club. Details emerging from a new biography and corroborated by Lewandowski himself reveal Barcelona asked him to curtail his goal-scoring in the final weeks of the 2022-23 La Liga campaign [[1]], [[2]], [[3]]. The unusual request stemmed from a €2.5 million bonus owed to Bayern Munich should Lewandowski reach 25 league goals.
Recent reports surrounding Robert Lewandowski have focused on speculation about a potential move mirroring that of other global stars to the Saudi Arabian league. However, the FC Barcelona striker has remained tight-lipped on the matter, instead sharing a surprising story about a request made during a crucial stage of last season.
Fotó: URBANANDSPORT / NurPhoto
Barcelona Asked Lewandowski to Stop Scoring
Lewandowski recently sat down for an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski, a prominent Polish sports journalist, where he addressed a story detailed in Sebastian Staszewski’s biography. The story alleges that, with Barcelona already securing the La Liga title with two matches remaining, club officials asked the then-23-goal striker to refrain from adding to his tally.
The request stemmed from a financial obligation: if Lewandowski reached 25 goals, Barcelona would have been required to pay €2.5 million to his former club, Bayern Munich.
“There are things I don’t really want to talk about. I have a lot of respect for Barcelona and the people who work there. I was aware of the club’s situation.
There were many problems that needed to be solved for the good of the club. Yes, there was a bonus, and everyone knew that Barcelona needed to pay attention to every euro at that time, and it was just a small thing.
From my perspective, it didn’t change anything. I didn’t have a problem with it, but it wasn’t on my mind to score or not score,” Lewandowski stated, acknowledging the “business move.”
Indeed, in the final two matches – a 3-0 win against Mallorca and a 2-1 victory over Celta Vigo – Lewandowski failed to find the back of the net despite playing the full 90 minutes in both contests. This revelation adds another layer to Barcelona’s well-documented financial struggles and the lengths the club went to in managing its budget. The situation highlights the complex financial realities facing even the world’s biggest football clubs.
